Entertainment: News In BriefFriday, October 15, 1999 Published at 14:03 GMT 15:03 UKSpandau three drop royalties appeal
Three former members of Spandau Ballet have withdrawn their renewed court bid to win a share of songwriter Gary Kemp's royalties.

Tony Hadley, John Keeble, and Steve Norman had lodged an application for leave to appeal against a High Court judge's rejection last April of their claim for up to £3m.

However, their counsel told the court of Appeal that in the interests of goodwill it was not appropriate to pursue the application.

Playwright Miller honoured

Playwright Arthur Miller has been awarded one of the biggest prizes in the arts - a silver medal and $200,000 (£125,000) from The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize Trust.

The 83-year-old, whose work includes award-winning plays Death of a Salesman and The Crucible, accepted the award at New York's Hudson Theatre.

"I guess what I've been trying to do for half a century is to part the curtain on what we deny," he told the audience.

"To me, that is what the theatre is about - to discover what we are desperately trying to suppress."

Miller said he plans to distribute the prize money to arts groups in New York.

The prize trust was established in 1994 from the estate of actress Lillian Gish, who wished to reward artists who made an "outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world".

The Who re-unite in Vegas

Veteran rockers The Who are to play a rare reunion gig in Las Vegas to mark the launch of an internet company.

The British group, who last performed together over two years ago, will headline the event at the MGM hotel for Pixelon Corp.

Vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend and bassist John Entwistle will be joined on drums by Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey, in place of Who drummer Keith Moon who died in 1978.

Other acts to play at the launch, which will be broadcast live on the internet on 29 October, may include Kiss, Tony Bennett and the Dixie Chicks.

Spice Girls and Robbie are festive favourites

Robbie Williams and The Spice Girls are favourites to top the Christmas and Millennium charts, say bookmakers.

But a flurry of bets for Sir Cliff Richard has meant bookie William Hill has halved the odds on him being No 1.

Sir Cliff is now at 33-1, from 66-1, after details of his seasonal single the Millennium Prayer were disclosed.

It sets the words of The Lord's Prayer to the tune of Auld Lang Syne and will benefit the charity Children's Promise.

Posh and Beckham 'move south'

Manchester United star David Beckham and his Spice Girl wife Victoria have bought a house 200 miles from Old Trafford, it was reported today.

The couple are preparing to move in to a £2.5m mock-Georgian mansion, according to the Daily Mail.

The house, near Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire, is near to Victoria Beckham's parents' home in Goff's Oak.

Speculation has linked Beckham with a move south because his wife is fed up with living in Cheshire.

Warning given over 'teeny weeny' bands

Veteran pop Svengali Pete Waterman has issued a warning to the promoters of "teeny weeny bop" bands after the launch of a group of 10-year-olds.

Girl quartet BreZe, whose combined age is 41, have landed a £500,000 record contract with Warners and more junior groups are said to be in the pipeline.

Jodie, 10, Phylicia, nine, Amanda and Jessica, both 11, are London stage school pupils.

Manager Bill Kimber said they will not go on tour and will have a mother with them at all times.

Rock groups top music awards shortlist

Travis and Stereophonics have topped the nominations shortlist for the annual Q Awards.

Both acts have three nominations, with each in the running for the Best Album title awarded by Q Magazine.

Also in with a chance of an honour when the results are announced on 3 November are Blur and REM, with two nominations each.